License plate light

[Matthew_B]

My previous vehicle I towed had an old school wiring system with switches and relays. For the marker lights I simply tapped into the light feed at the under-hood relay and added a diode there so the tow vehicle could power the entire marker light circuit. Everything lit up when I did that.

I'm now getting a Ford Escape Hybrid ready for towing. It has electronic monitoring of marker lights. In that system you shouldn't tap into the whole system, only individual lights as needed. When I look at the kits available, they only connect to the left and right rear marker / turn bulbs. Everything else will be dead.

This leads me to ask: What about the license plate light? Isn't that mandatory to be illuminated? Anyone ever get in trouble for a dark license plate light?

[Y-Guy]

Here is a good resource from AAA. It's not gospel but helpful, Digest of Motor Laws - Trailer Lighting

Some states clearly state license plates, others do not. Best resource will be your own state laws.

[wbwood]

gbopp wrote:
The light on a registration plate must be working.
Will it be enforced? Maybe, maybe not.

I would make sure it works, just in case.

It's a reason to get pulled over. Supposed to be illuminated. If your state does safety inspections, this is one of the things they check.

[nevadanick]

If you get stopped for a lic pl light then the officer is fishing, as long as your not doing anything wrong then why worry ?

[j-d]

BAM! You Got LIGHTS!

[Matthew_B]

I've managed to get a wiring diagram for the vehicle.

It turns out that while each and every signal filament does have a separate output from the "lights brain" the marker circuits are only divided in half. The front of the vehicle is on one circuit and the rear is on another. Now I just have to find the wire prior to the splice and I can pick-up the license plate and marker lights in one circuit.

[j-d]

First, I don't think I'd worry with it. Must say, I liked it when I was able to have the whole marker circuit lit by tapping into one spot. Tag, even the dashboard, lit up. Back then I tapped into the turn signal lights, so it flashed front and rear. No more...too modern...

If you're isolating individual lamps, I'd say work that till it works. Get Stop/Turn/Tail going like they should. Then investigate another diode to isolate the tag light(s). Should be able to then connect tag to one of the tail circuits. In my mind's eye, it'd be: Isolate Left (or Right) Tail Light. Connection branches from output of isolation diode to: Tail Light, AND Isolated Tag Light. Would need to see cars' wiring diagram and draw in the isolation.

Now that I don't tap into the full circuits anymore, I've simply added separate, dedicated, LED Stop/Turn/Tail lamps, and they don't light the Tags.

[Bobbo]

I am willing to bet that an unoccupied car being towed does not have to have the license plate lit. The vehicle doing the towing is the one that needs an illuminated license plate.

Don't ask me for references. I have not researched this and don't have any.

[ddndoug]

I don't have an answer to your question, but if someone is using magnetic towing lights their license plate lights are not lit.

Doug

[WyoTraveler]

JMHO..If tail light are lighted I suspect your license plate light is lighted up. They convert back and forth between US and foeign with just diodes. Actually they get fancy now With ICs but doubt it is going to be a problem. I doubt that they would put a product on the market that obviously violates the law. Way too much liability for them to do that.

[K_Charles]

How many wire go to the rear marker lights on the kit?

[gbopp]

The light on a registration plate must be working.
Will it be enforced? Maybe, maybe not.

I would make sure it works, just in case.